Fan with integrated plenum

ABSTRACT

A condenser fan assembly for a refrigerator appliance is provided including a plurality of blades, an electric motor in mechanical communication with the plurality of blades, and a fan housing. The fan housing is configured to separate the utility compartment defined by a cabinet of the refrigerator appliance into two zones. The fan housing includes a plenum, one or more support arms, and a backplate. The electric motor is attached the backplate, and the plenum, the one or more support arms, and the backplate are all formed integrally to increase an efficiency of the condenser fan assembly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to a refrigeratorappliance, or more particularly, to a condenser fan assembly for arefrigerator appliance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Consumer refrigerator appliances generally utilize a relatively simplesealed system that includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansiondevice, and an evaporator connected in series, in parallel, or in ahybrid configuration. The system is charged with a refrigerant, such asR-134a. During operation, the refrigerant is pressurized using thecompressor, raising the temperature of the refrigerant. The refrigerantis then flowed to the condenser, wherein heat from the refrigerant isexchanged, lowering the temperature of the refrigerant. From thecondenser, the refrigerant enters the expansion device and, upon exitingthe expansion device, the refrigerant enters the evaporator to furtherreduce the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant. Additionally,the refrigerant may change phase from a liquid to a gas in theevaporator. Heat from a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance(e.g., a freezer chamber or a fresh food chamber) is transferred to therefrigerant within the evaporator, reducing a temperature of the chilledchamber of the refrigerator appliance.

One or more of the components of the sealed system may be positioned ina utility compartment of the refrigerator appliance, with a back panelprovided to cover the utility compartment. A condenser fan assembly canbe positioned within the utility compartment adjacent to the condenserto provide an airflow over the condenser and increase an amount of heattransfer from the condenser to, e.g., ambient surroundings of therefrigerator appliance. Moreover, the condenser fan assembly can bepositioned within the utility compartment between an inlet vent and anexhaust vent on the back panel to allow such an airflow over thecondenser.

The condenser fan assembly includes various components to generate theairflow over the condenser. However, it can be difficult to create adurable and effective seal between the various components. For example,the seal can break down over continued use, allowing for airflow tocirculate from the downstream side of the utility compartment back tothe upstream side of the utility compartment between the variouscomponents of the condenser fan assembly, reducing the fan assembly'sefficiency. Additionally, such a configuration can allow for anundesirable rattling noise between the components.

Therefore, a condenser fan assembly that allows for an effective anddurable seal between the various components would be beneficial. Moreparticularly, a condenser fan assembly that can reduce a risk of aircirculation from the downstream side to the upstream side of the plenumand reduce a risk of undesirable rattling noises of the components wouldbe particularly useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention are set forth below in thefollowing description, or may be obvious from the description, or may belearned through practice of the invention.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a condenser fanassembly for a refrigerator appliance is provided including a pluralityof blades, an electric motor in mechanical communication with theplurality of blades, and a fan housing configured to separate a utilitycompartment within the refrigerator into two zones. The fan housingincludes a plenum, one or more support arms, and a backplate. Theelectric motor is attached to the backplate and the one or more supportarms extend from the backplate towards the plenum. Additionally, theplenum, the backplate, and the one or more support arms are formedintegrally.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, arefrigerator appliance is provided including a cabinet defining at leastone refrigerated compartment and a utility compartment. The refrigeratorappliance also includes a sealed system configured to provide cooled airto the at least one refrigerated compartment. The sealed system includesa condenser positioned in the utility compartment. The refrigeratorappliance additionally includes an electric motor positioned in theutility compartment adjacent to the condenser and in mechanicalcommunication with a plurality of blades, and a condenser fan housing.The condenser fan housing is configured to separate the utilitycompartment into a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone. Thecondenser fan housing includes a plenum, one or more support arms, and abackplate. The electric motor is attached to the backplate and the oneor more support arms extend from the backplate towards the plenum,wherein the plenum, the backplate, and the one or more support arms areformed integrally.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrateembodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth moreparticularly in the remainder of the specification, including referenceto the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 provides a front view of a refrigerator appliance according to anexemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 provides a rear view of a bottom portion of the exemplaryrefrigerator appliance of FIG. 1, with a cover panel removed.

FIG. 3 provides a rear view of the bottom portion of the exemplaryrefrigerator appliance of FIG. 1, including the cover panel.

FIG. 4 provides a downstream perspective view of a condenser fanassembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subjectmatter.

FIG. 5 provides a downstream plan view of the exemplary condenser fanassembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 provides an upstream perspective view of the exemplary condenserfan assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 provides an upstream plan view of the exemplary condenser fanassembly of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, notlimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 depicts a refrigerator appliance 10 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present subject matter. The refrigerator appliancedepicted 10 is an upright, vertically oriented refrigerator having acabinet or casing 12 that defines at least one refrigerated compartment.In particular, refrigerator appliance 10 includes an upper fresh-foodcompartment 14 having doors 16 and a lower freezer compartment 18 havingupper drawer 20 and lower drawer 22. The drawers 20, 22 are “pull-out”drawers in that they can be manually moved into and out of the freezercompartment 18 on suitable slide mechanisms.

Refrigerator appliance 10 depicted defines a vertical direction V, alateral direction L, and a transverse direction (not shown). Thevertical direction V, lateral direction L, and transverse direction aremutually perpendicular and form an orthogonal direction system.Additionally, refrigerator appliance 10 extends between a top portion 24and a bottom portion 26 generally along the vertical direction V,between a first side portion 28 and a second side portion 30 generallyalong the lateral direction L, and between a front side 32 and a rearside 34 (see FIG. 2) generally along the transverse direction.

It should be appreciated, however, that the refrigerator appliance 10depicted in FIG. 1 is provided by way of example only and that the term“refrigerator appliance” is used in a generic sense herein to encompassany manner of refrigeration appliance, such as a freezer,refrigerator/freezer combination, and any style or model of conventionalrefrigerator. Thus, it is within the scope of the present subject matterfor other configurations of the refrigerator appliance 10 to be used aswell. For example, refrigerator appliance 10 may be provided with anysuitable configuration of, e.g., fresh food compartment 14 and/orfreezer compartment 20, including any suitable hinged or pull-out doors.Additionally, although refrigerator appliance 10 is depicted as avertically oriented refrigerator appliance, in other embodiments, therefrigerant appliance 10 may, e.g., be a horizontally orientedrefrigerator appliance with a door positioned at e.g. a top side of therefrigerator appliance.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a rear view of the bottom portion 26 of theexemplary refrigerator appliance 10 of FIG. 1 is provided. As shown, thecabinet 12 of the refrigerant appliance 10 further defines a utilitycompartment 36, which for the embodiment depicted, is positioned at therear side 34 of the refrigerator appliance 10 towards the bottom portion26 of the refrigerator appliance 10. The utility compartment 36 includesone or more components of a sealed system 38 of refrigerator appliance10.

The sealed system 38 provides cooled air to the at least onerefrigerated compartments, e.g., the fresh food compartment 14 and/orthe freezer compartment 18 of the refrigerator appliance 10. The sealedsystem 38 generally includes a compressor 40, a condenser 42, anexpansion device (not shown), and an evaporator (not shown) connected inseries, connected in parallel, or in a hybrid connection configurationby one or more pipes or conduits 44. For example, a refrigerant may becompressed by the compressor 40 to increase a temperature and pressureof the refrigerant such that the refrigerant is in a superheated vaporphase. The pressurized refrigerant may then flow through the condenser42, wherein at least a portion of the superheated vapor refrigerant iscondensed into a liquid phase refrigerant by removing heat from therefrigerant. From the condenser 42, refrigerant may flow through theexpansion device whereby the temperature and pressure of the refrigerantis further reduced before traveling to the evaporator. Heat from the oneor more refrigerated compartments, e.g., fresh food compartment 14 orfreezer compartment 20, may be transferred to the evaporator (and therefrigerant therein), cooling the one or more refrigerated compartments.

For the embodiment depicted, the compressor 40 and the condenser 42 ofthe sealed system 38 are positioned in the utility compartment 36, withthe expansion device and the evaporator positioned elsewhere within thecabinet 12 of the refrigerator appliance 10. The various components areconnected using the pipes 44. However, in other exemplary embodiments,one or more of the expansion device and evaporator may also bepositioned in the utility compartment 36, or alternatively thecompressor 40 may be positioned outside of the utility compartment 36.

As shown, the refrigerator appliance 10 further includes a condenser fanassembly 46 positioned in the utility compartment 36 configured toprovide a flow of air over the condenser 42, increasing an efficiency ofthe sealed system 38. The condenser fan assembly 46 generally includes aplurality of blades 48, an electric motor 50 in mechanical communicationwith a plurality of blades 48, and a fan housing 52. The fan housing 52is configured to separate the utility compartment 36 within therefrigerator appliance into two zones. More particularly, the fanhousing 52 is configured to separate utility compartment 36 into a highpressure zone 54 and a low pressure zone 56. Accordingly, the fanhousing 52 defines a first side 58, which for the embodiment depicted isan upstream side, and a second and opposite side 60, which for theembodiment depicted is a downstream side.

Referring now to FIG. 3, another rear view of the bottom portion 26 ofthe exemplary refrigerator appliance 10 of FIG. 1 is provided. For theembodiment shown, the refrigerator appliance 10 also includes a backcover panel 62 extending over the utility compartment 36 and attached tothe cabinet 12 of the refrigerator appliance 10 using a plurality ofscrews 64. However, in other embodiments, the back cover panel 62 mayinstead be attached to the cabinet 12 in any other suitable manner. Forexample, in other embodiments, the back cover panel 62 may be attachedat a first side using one or more hinges, and attached at and oppositeside using one or more suitable latches. The back cover panel 62includes an airflow inlet 66 and an airflow exhaust 68. The airflowinlet 66 may be positioned over the low pressure zone 56 of the utilitycompartment 36, while the airflow exhaust 68 may be positioned over thehigh pressure zone 54 of the utility compartment 36. Accordingly, thecondenser fan assembly 46 may provide for a flow of air from an ambientsurrounding of the refrigerator appliance 10, through the airflow inlet66 of the back cover panel 62, over the condenser 42 (exchanging heatwith the condenser), and out through the airflow exhaust 68 of the backcover panel 62.

It should be appreciated, however, that in other exemplary embodiments,the refrigerator appliance 10 may instead define an airflow inlet 66 andan airflow exhaust 68 in any other suitable location. For example, thecabinet 12 of the refrigerator appliance 10 may define an airflow inlet66 on the first side 28 of the cabinet and an airflow exhaust 68 on thesecond side 30 of the cabinet 12.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 provides adownstream perspective view of a condenser fan assembly 46 in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Additionally,FIG. 5 provides a downstream plan view of the exemplary condenser fanassembly 46 of FIG. 4.

As is shown, the exemplary fan housing 52 of the condenser fan assembly46 generally includes a plate structure or plenum 70, a fan shroud 72,one or more support arms 74, and a backplate 76. The electric motor 50is attached to the backplate 76 and the one or more support arms 74extend from the backplate 76 towards the plenum 70. More particularly,the one or more support arms 74 extend from the backplate 76 to the fanshroud 72, and the fan shroud 72 extends between the support arms 74 andthe plenum 70.

The plenum 70, the fan shroud 72, the one or more support arms 74, andthe backplate 76 are all formed integrally. As used herein, “formedintegrally” refers to one or more components being made from the samematerial with no seams or gaps therebetween. For example, two componentsmay be formed integrally when they are formed simultaneously using asingle mold or die.

Additionally, as stated, the fan housing 52 defines the first side 58(FIGS. 6 and 7), or upstream side, and the second side 60, or downstreamside. The fan shroud 72 extends outwardly along an axial direction Afrom the plenum 70 on the second side 60 and is cylindrical in shape.Additionally, the fan shroud 72 defines an inner surface 88 and anorifice 90, the inner surface 88 extending along the circumferentialdirection C around the orifice 90. The electric motor 50 is attached tothe backplate 76, and the plurality of blades 48 and electric motor 50are positioned within the orifice 90 of the fan shroud 72. The fanshroud 72 may assist in directing airflow generated by the plurality ofblades 48 and electric motor 50.

Additionally, the plurality of blades 48 each extend between a base 92and a tip 94. A clearance 96 is defined by the condenser fan assembly 46between the tips 94 of the plurality of blades 48 and the inner surface88 of the fan shroud 72. In certain exemplary embodiments, the clearance96 may be less than or equal to seven (7) millimeters (mm). However, inother exemplary embodiments, the clearance 96 may be less than or equalto three (3) mm, less than or equal to one (1) mm, or less than or equalto eight tenths (0.8) of a mm. Such a configuration is allowable due tothe integral formation of the backplate 76, the support arms 74, and thefan shroud 72. More particularly, by forming the backplate 76, thesupport arms 74, and the fan shroud 72 integrally and attaching theelectric motor 50 to the backplate 76, the electric motor 50 may bemounted with relatively high precision within the orifice 90 of the fanshroud 72, and relative to the inner surface 88 of the fan shroud 72.Accordingly, the plurality of blades 48 may define the above clearance96, increasing an efficiency of the condenser fan assembly 46. Morespecifically, such a clearance 96 between the tips 24 of the pluralityof blades 48 and the inner surface 88 of the fan shroud 72 may reduce anamount of airflow that swirls back upstream around the tips 94 of theplurality of blades 48 (i.e., from the high pressure zone 54 to the lowpressure zone 56) during operation of the condenser fan assembly 46.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, FIG. 6 provides an upstream perspectiveview of the exemplary condenser fan assembly 46 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 7provides an upstream plan view of the exemplary condenser fan assembly46 of FIG. 4. For the embodiment depicted, the first side 58 includes alip 78 also extending outwardly along the axial direction A from theplenum 70. The exemplary lip 78 is configured to support a condenserassembly 80 (see FIG. 2) of the refrigerator appliance 10. For example,referring back to FIG. 2, the condenser assembly 80 generally includes acylindrically shaped housing 82 with condenser coils 84 of the condenser42 positioned therein. The cylindrically shaped housing 82 maycorrespond in shape with the lip 78 extending from the plenum 70. Moreparticularly, the exemplary lip 78 depicted also defines a generallycylindrical shape having a diameter along a radial direction R slightlylarger than a diameter of the cylindrically shaped housing 82 of thecondenser assembly 80 along the radial direction R. The housing 82 maytherefore be received within the lip 78 of the fan housing 52 condenserfan assembly 46. It should be appreciated, however, that in otherexemplary embodiments, the housing 82 and lip 78 may have any othershape. For example, in other exemplary embodiments, the housing 82 andlip 78 may define a squared or rectangular cross-sectional shape.

Additionally, the lip 78 may further include a gasket or foam seal (notshown) extending along the circumferential direction C around an insidesurface 86 of the lip 78. Such a configuration may further assist inproviding a desired amount of airflow over the condenser coils 84 of thecondenser 42. More particularly, such a configuration may ensure airflowfrom the airflow inlet 66 on the back cover panel 62 flows through thehousing 82 of the condenser assembly 80, and thus, over the condensercoils 84 of the condenser 42, to provide the desired amount of heatexchange with the condenser 42. The gasket or foam seal may be aseparate component attached to the lip 78, or alternatively may beformed integrally with the lip 78. For example, the gasket may beovermolded with the lip 78 using any suitable material, such as a rubbermaterial.

It should be appreciated, however, that in other exemplary embodimentsof the present disclosure, the first side 58 of the fan housing 52 mayhave any other suitable configuration. For example, in otherembodiments, the fan housing 22 may not define the lip 78 for supportingthe condenser assembly 80, or alternatively may define any othersuitable shape for the lip 78.

Referring now generally to FIGS. 4 through 7, the fan housing 52 furtherdefines an outer perimeter 98. Due to the integral formation of the fanshroud 72 and the plenum 70, the fan housing 52 extends continuouslybetween the fan shroud 72 and the outer perimeter 98 to form an airtightseal between the first side 58 and the second side 60 of the housing 52from between the fan shroud 72 and the outer perimeter 98 of the housing52. More particularly, for the embodiment depicted, the orifice 90 ofthe fan shroud 72 is the only opening in the fan housing 52. The outerperimeter 98 is configured to form a seal within the utility compartment36 and, for the embodiment depicted, includes a gasket 100 extendingaround the outer perimeter 98 to assist with such a function. In certainexemplary embodiments the gasket 100 may be a foam gasket, oralternatively may be made of a resilient material, such as a rubbermaterial. Further, the gasket 100 may be a separate component attachedto the outer perimeter 98 in any suitable manner, or alternatively maybe formed integrally with the outer perimeter 98 of the housing 52. Forexample, in certain exemplary embodiments, the gasket 100 may beovermolded with the outer perimeter 98 using any suitable material.Accordingly, for the embodiment depicted, the fan housing 52 may allowfor a more durable and efficient condenser fan assembly 46, as the riskof air leaking from the high pressure zone 54 to the low pressure zone56 through the plenum 70, the fan shroud 72, or a seal therebetween iseliminated. Additionally, by forming the plenum 70 integrally with thefan shroud 72, the support arms 74, and the backplate 76, a risk of thefan housing 52 developing one or more unwanted noises during operationof the condenser fan assembly 46 is minimized. More particularly, therisk of a “rattling” between one or more of the plenum 70, the fanshroud 72, the support arms 74, and the backplate 76 due to vibrationsof, e.g., the electric motor 50 and the plurality of blades 48, isminimized.

Referring still generally to FIGS. 4 through 7, the outer perimeter 98defines an indentation 102, which may allow for one or more pipes, suchas one or more of the pipes 44 of the sealed system 38 of therefrigerator appliance 10, to extend therethrough. For example, theindentation 102 may allow for one or more of the pipes 44 to extend fromthe compressor 40 to the condenser 42, and/or from, e.g., the evaporatorto the compressor 40. It should be appreciated, however, that in otherexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the outer perimeter 98may not define such an indentation 102. Additionally, or alternatively,the fan housing 52 may define one or more openings with suitable gasketsor other sealing mechanisms (not shown) in, e.g., the plenum 70 allowingfor one or more pipes 44 of the sealed system 38 to extend therethrough.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other and examples areintended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structuralelements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, orif they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantialdifferences from the literal language of the claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A condenser fan assembly for a refrigeratorappliance comprising: a plurality of blades; an electric motor inmechanical communication with the plurality of blades; and a fan housingconfigured to separate a utility compartment within the refrigeratorinto two zones, the fan housing comprising a plenum; one or more supportarms; and a backplate, the electric motor attached to the backplate andthe one or more support arms extending from the backplate towards theplenum, wherein the plenum, the backplate, and the one or more supportarms are formed integrally.
 2. The condenser fan assembly of claim 1,wherein the fan housing further comprises a fan shroud defining anorifice, wherein the plurality of blades are positioned in the orificeof the fan shroud, and wherein the fan shroud is formed integrally withthe plenum, the backplate, and the one or more support arms.
 3. Thecondenser fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more support armsextend from the backplate to the fan shroud, and wherein the fan shroudextends between the support arms and the plenum.
 4. The condenser fanassembly of claim 2, wherein the fan housing defines an upstream side, adownstream side, and an outer perimeter, wherein the fan housing extendscontinuously between the fan shroud and the outer perimeter to form anair tight seal between the upstream side and the downstream side frombetween the fan shroud and the outer perimeter.
 5. The condenser fanassembly of claim 2, wherein the fan housing defines an upstream sideand a downstream side, and wherein the fan shroud extends outwardlyalong an axial direction from the plenum on the downstream side of thefan housing.
 6. The condenser fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the fanhousing further comprises a lip extending outwardly along an axialdirection from the plenum, the lip configured to support a condenserassembly.
 7. The condenser fan assembly of claim 2, wherein theplurality of blades each extend between a base and a tip, wherein thefan shroud defines an inner surface extending circumferentially aroundthe orifice, and wherein the condenser fan assembly defines a clearancebetween the tips of the plurality of blades and the inner surface thatis less than seven millimeters.
 8. The condenser fan assembly of claim1, wherein the fan housing further defines an outer perimeter, the outerperimeter configured to form a seal with the utility compartment.
 9. Thecondenser fan assembly of claim 8, wherein the condenser fan assemblyfurther comprises a gasket extending around the outer perimeter.
 10. Thecondenser fan assembly of claim 9, wherein the gasket is formedintegrally with the fan housing.
 11. A refrigerator appliance comprisinga cabinet defining at least one refrigerated compartment and a utilitycompartment; a sealed system configured to provide cooled air to the atleast one refrigerated compartment, the sealed system including acondenser positioned in the utility compartment; an electric motorpositioned in the utility compartment adjacent to the condenser and inmechanical communication with a plurality of blades; and a condenser fanhousing configured to separate the utility compartment into a highpressure zone and a low pressure zone, the condenser fan housingcomprising a plenum; one or more support arms; and a backplate, theelectric motor attached to the backplate and the one or more supportarms extending from the backplate towards the plenum, wherein theplenum, the backplate, and the one or more support arms are formedintegrally.
 12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein the fanhousing further comprises a fan shroud defining an orifice, wherein theplurality of blades are positioned in the orifice of the fan shroud, andwherein the fan shroud is formed integrally with the plenum, thebackplate, and the one or more support arms.
 13. The refrigeratorappliance of claim 12, wherein the one or more support arms extend fromthe backplate to the fan shroud, and wherein the fan shroud extendsbetween the support arms and the plenum.
 14. The refrigerator applianceof claim 12, wherein the fan housing defines an upstream side, adownstream side, and an outer perimeter, wherein the fan housing extendscontinuously between the fan shroud and the outer perimeter to form anair tight seal between the upstream side and the downstream side frombetween the fan shroud and the outer perimeter.
 15. The refrigeratorappliance of claim 12, wherein the fan housing defines an upstream sideand a downstream side, and wherein the fan shroud extends outwardlyalong an axial direction from the plenum on the downstream side of thefan housing.
 16. The refrigerator appliance of claim 12, wherein the fanhousing further comprises a lip extending outwardly along an axialdirection from the plenum, the lip configured to support a condenserassembly.
 17. The refrigerator appliance of claim 12, wherein theplurality of blades each extend between a base and a tip, wherein thefan shroud defines an inner surface extending circumferentially aroundthe orifice, and wherein the condenser fan housing defines a clearancebetween the tips of the plurality of blades and the inner surface thatis less than seven millimeters.
 18. The refrigerator appliance of claim11, wherein the fan housing further defines an outer perimeter, theouter perimeter configured to form a seal with the utility compartment.19. The refrigerator appliance of claim 18, wherein the refrigeratorappliance further comprises a gasket extending around the outerperimeter.
 20. The refrigerator appliance of claim 19, wherein thegasket is formed integrally with the condenser fan housing.